I found out what happened to that girl that we know that we thought might try out for AI
Idol-ized: Tobyhanna teen Michelle Rescigno wins talent contest
NATHAN MATTISE
For The Pocono Record
July 04, 2006
The sounds of Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away" resonated throughout the packed theater. When the song was over, the talented lady's mature voice earned her a well deserved round of applause — not to mention a $1,000 cash prize.
The concert was for Bo Bice, not Kelly Clarkson. And the song wasn't performed by the first "American Idol" winner, but by Michelle Rescigno, a 16-year-old Pocono Mountain West student from Tobyhanna.
Rescigno was the winner of the KRZ Idol competition sponsored by local radio station WKRZ 98.5 FM. As part of her prize, she performed as an opening act and introduced Bice at the concert last week.Rescigno received cash, the performance opportunity and a three-day trip to Miami for front row seats at a Madonna concert.
"And all I had to do was sing a couple songs," Rescigno said.
Not such a big deal for someone who's been around music all her life. Rescigno's father, Richard, owns a recording studio. She's been playing piano since age 7 and started composing original works at 11. She performed an original work, "My Last Goodbye," to a good crowd response at the Bice concert.
Recently, Rescigno cut a demo of her work between the ages of 12 and 14 and has had some interested producers because of it.
But that's seven years past her first recording. In her dad's studio at the age of 5, she had her first recorded work on an album when she agreed to sing on Warner Brothers' artist Moran's record — on the condition that she'd be paid immediately with a new Barbie.
"Singing I've been doing for forever, if you count dance recitals, I started performing when I was 4," Rescigno said. "But the Bice concert was the first time opening for anyone big."
The KRZ competition was an open audition where interested listeners could go to participating locations and perform a song of their choice for the chance to win the title of KRZ Idol. Rescigno heard about the competition from a friend who thought she could do well.
"I got a call from a friend," she said, 'I heard there's this thing going on at the mall and you should go,'" Rescigno said. "So that very night I went to Wal-Mart and got a karaoke CD, then I got put through to the final round."
At the mall, Rescigno performed a Mariah Carey song. During the finals, she performed "Walk Away" by Clarkson.
Now that she's 16, Rescigno might take either song and use it when she auditions for "American Idol" in the fall. Fox Network's wildly popular music competition is very selective and it may be a long shot, but Rescigno is realistic and knows that music will always be a part of her future.
"I'd love to just tour and do albums for the rest of my life, sure," she said. "But if that doesn't happen, a music teacher is something I'd be interested in too."
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